Retired federal agent Victor Avila was one of the key speakers at the How Many More rally in Austin, Texas, on April 29.
The rally was held to put pressure on lawmakers to act upon the humanitarian crisis brewing at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Avila is a former supervisory special agent with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) division, his website said. During his career, he worked as a special agent at the El Paso Field Office and as an assistant attaché at the U.S. Consulate in Ciudad Juarez, as well as at U.S. embassies situated in Spain, Portugal and Mexico City. The website noted that he has received recognition from ICE and HSI for achievements and service during his career.
“It was a great event to continue to not only bring awareness to the chaos at our southern border, but also put pressure on our state and federal elected officials to act...the victims this open border policy has created,” Avila said in a statement, quoted by the Austin Journal. “US citizens killed, raped at the hands of illegal aliens. As a victim myself of the vicious cartels, I see the imminent threat we face with human smuggling/trafficking and fentanyl poisonings. But the US citizens are not the only victims, the illegals themselves are victimized, killed, raped, extorted by the cartels and others through their journey to get to the US. With a secure border, you save and protect lives.“
The goal of the rally was to boost awareness about the risks tied to the crisis at the border, which include an increase in drug trafficking into the U.S., particularly substances like fentanyl; the event’s website said. Another key focus was on human trafficking and potential national security threats that could arise from cartels and foreign terrorist groups.
The event's website also noted other speakers including U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), journalist Lara Logan, musician Ted Nugent, and people living along the Texas border who are impacted by the growing crisis.